20% of the production is affected

A pathogen and a fungus hit Bolivian strawberries

The president of the Municipal Council of Pojo, Matias Rodriguez, stated that there was a species of fungus and a pathogen of spider mites in the region of the central department of Cochabamba that affected about 20% of the 100 hectares of strawberry crops.

"We have diseases, fungi, and spider mites. Our municipality has around 100 hectares of strawberry, as a sector, and almost 20 percent of them are affected by the disease," he told reporters.

He said the pathogen had been affecting the community of Palca since the beginning of the year and that producers were trying to control it with organic products.

The spider mites cause more damage because they attack the plant and don't let it bloom or set to bear fruit, he added.

He also said that they had been able to recover part of the production affected thanks to the efforts they've made so far.

"It is not so lost, nor is it so damaged," he said.

He also added that the Mayor's office of Pojo had requested the Government of Cochabamba to provide them with experts and technicians specialized in the elimination of pests.